arful. Have taken down my bed to set it within my secret
chamber.

June 13.--This morning early the rogue Benjamin Denton, venturing
within my fire-zone, took a bullet in his midriff, whereof he suddenly
perished.

June 14.--This morning having gotten all my furniture into my secret
chamber do find myself very comfortable. But my stores beginning to
run low do put myself on half-rations.

June 15.--My murderers very silent with intent to lure me to my death
but I--

The rest of this page was so stained and blotted that I could make
nothing of it save a word or phrase here and there as:

... secret pass ... pit of black water and very ... fear of death ...
head over ears ... to my chin so that I ... miserably wet ... on hands
and knees being determined ... wonderful beyond thought for here ...
tlemy's Treasure ... very great ... this gold I saw was ... emeralds,
diamonds and ... pearls a-many ... through my fingers ... like any poor
crazed soul. For here was treasure greater ... moreover and wealth
undreamed ... shaft of ... suddenly ... the valley ... sore annoyed I
stood to ... he knelt ... seeking the water ... turned ... our knives
... through my forearm but I ... broke short against my chain-shirt and
I ... beneath the armpit. So back by the secret way to bind up my hurt
and behold again my treasure.

Here my candle dying out and I in the dark, I laid the book aside and
presently got me to sleep.

CHAPTER XXXIII

WE EXPLORE THE ISLAND

I opened my eyes to a great beam of sun pouring in at the open doorway,
whereby I judged my companion already astir. So I arose forthwith, and
going out of the cave stood amazed to see the havoc wrought by last
night's storm. For everywhere lay trees torn and uprooted, and in
divers of the more exposed places the wind it seemed had swept them
utterly away, so that the landscape here and there wore an air
unfamiliar and not to be recognised. Though the wind was died away I
saw the sea yet rolling tempestuous to break in foam upon the reef and
with dreadful roar. Looking down on Deliverance Beach I beheld its
white sands littered with piles of driftwood, and over all a cloudless
blue with the sun new-risen and very hot.

And now taking my hooks and line and a pliant bough for rod, I went
forth to angle for breakfast. Reaching the lagoon great wonder was it
to behold these waters so smooth and placid while the surf foamed and
thundered beyond the reef. I now ba